Lost or found pet reporting in Dubai

Act quickly, but keep the evidence clean

For a lost pet, write down the exact time, last known location, direction of travel, collar or harness details, microchip number, medical needs, temperament, and safe contact channel before posting. Use recent photos, including one full-body photo and one face photo.

For a found pet, take photos before moving the animal if it is safe to do so. Note the location, time, visible condition, collar details, and whether the animal was scanned for a microchip. If you hand the animal to a clinic, rescuer, municipality facility, or owner, record who received it and when.

Do not publish everything

Public posts should help the community identify the pet, but they should not expose private addresses, Emirates ID images, full vaccine cards, full microchip documents, or exact apartment numbers. Keep high-confidence proof private so claimants can be checked.

For found animals, do not publish every unique marking if it is not needed. A real owner can describe hidden details, provide older photos, identify the microchip or tag number, name the vet clinic, or show consistent records.

Verification before handover

Ask claimants for proof that existed before the public post: older photos, vet records, microchip record, registration tag, adoption papers, or messages with a clinic or rescuer. If the animal has medical needs, ask the claimant to identify them. Avoid handing over a found pet based only on a name guess or emotional pressure.

Microchips and official channels

A microchip scan at a licensed clinic is often the fastest path to a safe reunion. Dubai Municipality's animal registration and numbering service exists to identify animals and monitor health status, and many clinics can help update or check registration-linked details. For serious welfare, bite, danger, or abandonment concerns, contact the relevant authority rather than managing the case only through comments.

When the pet is injured or heat stressed

If a found animal is injured, collapsed, heavily panting, unable to walk, bleeding, or showing heat-stress signs, prioritize veterinary care and basic safety over perfect posting. Keep receipts and notes so the owner, rescuer, or authority can understand what happened.

GAMJA posting checklist

A strong GAMJA lost or found post includes species, color, size, approximate age, last seen or found area, date and time, safe contact method, whether a microchip scan has happened, and any urgent medical context. It should avoid exact private addresses and document images.

The goal is a verified reunion, not maximum exposure. Share enough to mobilize help, keep enough private to prove ownership.